How Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘A Nonsense Christmas’ channeled the spirit of holiday specials past

Designer Jason Sherwood walks through the countless references in “A Nonsense Christmas,” from Marilyn Monroe to Judy Garland.

Pop star Sabrina Carpenter’s A Nonsense Christmas is certainly a holiday special of our time. After all, the Netflix special features sketches about “ghosting” internet dates and Santa’s open relationship. But the show’s musical moments, which make up the bulk of its 50-minute runtime, feature set design that embraces Christmas nostalgia.